Two big events set to kick off in Offaly

Offaly is gearing up for two major events in the summer calendar with Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival and Tullamore Show both taking place in the coming weeks.

This year, the team behind Birr Vintage Week has pulled out all the stops to celebrate its 55th birthday with over 90 events taking place in over 40 locations featuring visual arts, theatre, music, street theatre, workshops, exhibitions, together with a host of community events from Friday, August 4 to Saturday, August 12.

Much-loved events are back including the Vintage Sunday Parade, Fireworks Night & Gig Rig, Birr Air Display, the Crinkill Soapbox Race and a busy Visual Arts programme. The Courthouse Yard will once again be a creative hub for the duration of the Festival after opening its gates last year with visual arts workshops, music and Vintage Luminaries.

Chair & Visual Arts Coordinator of Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival Caroline Conway said that plans are going really well ahead of the festival. “We have just finished two weeks of Parade Workshops which have been fantastic. We have been making plants, microscopes and telescopes and costumes with artist Caoimhe Dunn. Huge work is going into the preparations at the moment. There are a lot of events and a lot of moving parts but we have a great team this year, especially, our Vintage interns who have brought a new energy to the team.”

Ms Conway added: "One of the highlights will be the old cinema on Brendan Street (directly across from Birr Technology Centre) which is being transformed into a magical immersive experience and will also have a display of old cinema posters There are two fantastic night-time events in Birr Castle and the parade is everyone’s highlight.

“This year’s parade will feature Cloughjordan Circus Club and Cal y Canto, all the way from Spain, and of course the Vintage cars. A number of events have sold out already, so it’s very important people book in advance for our ticketed events this year.”

New to the festival this year will be the Children's Archaeology workshops hosted by the Irish Heritage School along with some belly dancing workshops and food events. John's Hall will also reopen its doors for two lovely events hosted by Birr School of Music.

Speaking about her hopes for the future of the festival, Ms Conway said: “We hope the festival continues to thrive, that more people get involved, as volunteers and as participants and that it continues to bring the diaspora home to Birr to meet up with family and friends. Vintage Week is a very special festival for Birr and we want to continue its tradition while also surprising people with new experiences.”

Tullamore Show and FBD National Livestock Show is also fast approaching. Sunday, August 13 will see the show attract the best cattle, sheep, and equine breeders from all over the country, alongside entrants for its other 1,000 plus competitions with a total prize-fund of €175,000.

It is Ireland's largest one-day show, averaging 60,000 visitors in recent years, with 700 Trade Stands from Agri Sectors, Home Industries, Farm Produce, Innovation, Forestry, Agri Machinery and more.